kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第6章

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Dhugal　made　a　grim　attempt　at　a　chuckle。　〃Hold　his　arm　steady；　then　…　just　there；〃　he　said；　repositioning　the　arm　and　guiding　Kelson's　hands　into　place　as　his　patient　continued　to　stare。
〃Unfortunately；〃　Dhugal　went　on；　〃battle　surgeoning　isn't　one　of　the　things　I've　had　time　to　learn　as　well　as　I'd　like　…　more's　the　pity　for　friend　Bertie；　here。　Just　because　I've　made　something　of　a　reputation　patching　up　horses；　he's　convinced　I　can　put　him　back　together；　aren't　ye；　Bertie？〃　he　added；　lapsing　into　border　dialect　again　for　just　a　few　words。
〃Ach；　just　watch　who　yer　parin'　to　a　horse；　young　MacArdry；〃　Bertie　replied　good…naturedly；　though　he　hissed　through　his　teeth　and　then　tried　to　curl　up　on　his　side　in　reflex　as　Dhugal　probed　in　the　wound。
Moving　nimbly；　Dhugal　helped　Kelson　immobilize　the　arm　and　again　attempted　to　place　his　first　suture；　shifting　from　court　speech　to　border　dialect　and　back　again　with　ease；　though　his　face　reflected　the　strain　of　the　other。
〃Bertie　MacArdry；　ye　may　be　as　strong　as　a　horse；　in　smell　if　not　in　muscle；〃　he　ranted；　〃but　if　ye　wish　sommat　besides　a　sleeve…filler；　ye　must　lie　still！　Kelson；　you've　got　to　keep　his　arm　from　moving；　or　it's　little　use。　I　can't　control　his　bleeding　if　he　thrashes　around。〃
Kelson　did　his　best；　slipping　easily　into　the　old　camaraderie　he　and　Dhugal　had　enjoyed　so　long　ago；　as　boys；　and　which　remained　so　fortable　now　that　they　were　men。　But　as　Dhugal　continued　to　probe；　and　Bertie　gasped　and　tensed　again。　Kelson　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and；　in　a　moment　of　sudden　decision；　shifted　the　back　of　one　bloodied　hand　to　the　man's　forehead；　reaching　out　with　his　Deryni　senses。
〃Sleep；　Bertie；〃　he　whispered；　slipping　his　wrist　down　over　the　man's　eyes　and　feeling　the　tense　body　go　limp。　〃Go　to　sleep　and　remember　nothing　of　this　when　you　wake。　No　pain。　Just　sleep。〃
Dhugal's　hand　faltered　and　paused　in　midstitch　as　he　sensed　the　change　e　over　his　patient；　but　when　he　looked　across　at　Kelson　there　was　only　wonder　…　not　the　fear　the　king　had　e　so　often　to　expect　in　the　past　few　years。　After　a　few　seconds；　Dhugal　returned　to　his　task；　working　more　quickly　now；　a　faint　smile　playing　across　his　Ups。
〃You　have；　indeed；　learned　a　few　things　in　four　years；　haven't　you。　Sire？〃　he　asked　softly；　when　he　had　tied　off　the　last　of　the　internal　sutures　and　cut　the　gut　thread　close　to　the　knot。
〃You　didn't　use　my　title　when　we　were　boys；　Dhugal；　and　I　wish　you　wouldn't　in　the　future；　at　least　in　private；〃　Kelson　murmured。　〃And　I　would　have　to　say　that　you've　teamed　a　few　things　yourself。〃
Dhugal　shrugged　and　began　rethreading　his　needle　with　bright　green　silk。　〃You　probably　remember　that　I　was　always　good　with　animals。　Well；　after　Michael　died　and　I　had　to　e　home　from　Court；　one　of　the　things　they　had　me　study　was　surgeoning　…　part　of　the　training　of　a　laird；　they　said：　to　be　able　to　patch　up　one's　animals　and　men。〃
He　flushed　out　the　partially　sutured　wound　again；　pausing　when　Bertie　moaned　and　stirred　a　little　…　and　Kelson　had　to　reach　out　with　his　mind　once　more　…　then　dusted　the　raw　flesh　with　a　bluish　grey　powder　and　had　Kelson　press　the　lips　of　the　wound　together　from　either　side。　Carefully；　meticulously；　he　began　drawing　them　together　with　neat；　green　silk　stitches。
〃Is　it　true　that　Duke　Alaric　healed　himself　at　your　coronation？〃　Dhugal　asked　after　a　moment；　not　looking　up　from　his　work。
Kelson　raised　one　eyebrow；　wondering　why　Dhugal　was　asking。
〃Is　that　one　of　the　stories　that's　e　west？〃
〃And　others　…　aye。〃
〃Well；　it's　true；〃　Kelson　said；　a　little　defensively。　〃Father　Duncan　helped　him。　I　didn't　see　it　happen；　but　I　saw　the　result　…　and　I　did　see　him　heal　Duncan　later　on：　a　wound　that　should　have　killed　anyone　else。〃
〃You　actually　saw　this？〃　Dhugal　asked；　pausing　to　stare　at　Kelson。
Kelson　shivered　a　little；　and　had　to　look　away　from　the　blood　on　his　own　hands　to　shake　the　memory。
〃They　took　a　terrible　chance；〃　he　whispered。　〃We　needed　to　convince　Warm　de　Grey　that　Deryni　weren't　necessarily　evil。　Warm　claims　that　his　own　healing　es　from　God；　so　Duncan　decided　to　show　him　that　Deryni　can　heal；　too。　He　let　Warm　wound　him　in　the　shoulder；　but　it　was　almost　too　severe。　I　hate　to　think　of　what　would　have　happened；　if　it　hadn't　worked。〃
〃What　do　you　mean；　'if　it　hadn't　worked？'〃　Dhugal　asked　softly；　his　needle　half…forgotten　in　his　fingers。　〃I　thought　you　said　he　and　Morgan　could　heal。〃
〃They　can；〃　Kelson　replied；　〃only　they　don't　really　know　how　they　do　it；　and　the　gift　isn't　always　reliable。　Maybe　that's　because　they're　only　half…Deryni。　From　Father　Duncan's　research；　we　now　believe　that　some　Deryni　were　able　to　do　such　things　on　a　regular　basis　during　the　Interregnum；　but　the　art　apparently　has　been　lost　since。　Only　a　small　percentage　of　Deryni　had　the　healing　gift；　even　then。〃
〃But　that　Warm　fellow　can　do　it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And　he　isn't　Deryni？〃
Kelson　shook　his　head。　〃Not　so　far　as　we've　been　able　to　tell。　He　still　insists　his　gift　es　from　God　…　and　maybe　it　does。　Maybe　he's　a　genuine　miracle…worker。　Who　are　。　we　to　say？〃
Dhugal　snorted　and　resumed　his　work。　〃That　sounds　more　capricious　than　being　Deryni；　if　you　ask　me　…　working　miracles！　For　myself；　I　think　I'd　gladly　settle　for　being　able　to　do　your　trick。〃
〃My　trick？〃
〃To　knock　out　a　patient　painlessly　before　trying　to　work　on　him。　From　a　battle　surgeon's　point　of　view；　that's　a　blessing；　no　matter　where　the　ability　es　from；　though　I　suspect　ecclesiastical　opinion　would　argue　the　point。　No　reflection　on　friend　Bertie's　courage；　but　if　you　hadn't　done　…　whatever　you　did　…　he　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　hold　still　for　me　to　do　this。　I　suppose　it　was　some　of　your。。　。Deryni　magic？〃
Almost　hypnotically。　Kelson　watched　the　bloody　hands　move　up　and　down；　drawing　the　wound　closed　with　Dhugal's　own　almost　magical　ability；　and　he　had　to　shake　his　head　lightly　to　break　the　spell。
〃I　think　you　have　your　own　kind　of　magic；〃　he　murmured；　looking　across　at　Dhugal　in　admiration。　〃And　thank　God　you　don't　seem　to　be　intimidated　by　mine。　You　have　no　idea　what　a　relief　it　is　to　be　able　to　use　my　powers　for　something　like　this　…　which　is　what　they　were　intended　for；　in　the　beginning；　I　feel　sure　…　and　not　have　you　be　afraid。〃
With　a　smile；　Dhugal　tied　off　the　last　of　his　sutures　and　cat　the　thread；　then　looked　up　at　Kelson　with　a　keen；　frank　appraisal　of　the　borderman。
〃I　seem　to　recall　that　we　once　swore　a　blood…oath　to　live　as　brothers　all　our　lives；〃　he　said　softly；　〃and　to　do　whatever　good　we　might。　Why　should　I　fear　my　brother；　then；　simply　because　he　has　been　given　the　means　to　do　greater　good？　I　know　you　would　never　harm　me　…　　brother。〃
As　Kelson　caught　his　breath　in　surprise；　Dhugal　ducked　his　head　and　returned　to　his　work；　sluicing　clean　water　over　the　sutures　and　then　binding　a　handful　of　dried　sphagnum　moss　over　the　wound。
That；　at　least。　Kelson　felt　he　understood；　as　he　washed　his　hands　and　dried　them　on　a　corner　of　their　patient's　tunic。　He　was　not　sure　he　understood　the　other　kneeling　across　from　him；　but　he　did　not　think　he　cared　to　question　what　had　just　passed　between　them。　He　had　forgotten　what　a　fort　it　could　be　to　confide　in　a　friend　of　his　own　generation。　Conall　was　his　age；　and　Payne　and　Rory　only　a　little　younger；　but　that　was　not　the　same。　They　had　not　been　tempered　with　adult　responsibilities　the　way　he　and　Dhugal　had。　Morgan　and　Duncan　understood；　of　course；　and　perhaps　his　Uncle　Nigel；　but　even　they　were　somewhat　removed　by　age　and　experience　…　and　they　were　not　always　around。　He　found　himself　heaving　a　sigh　of　relief　as　Dhugal　finally　rinsed　his　hands　and　dried　them　on　a　blood…stained　grey　towel。
〃That's　it；　then；〃　Dhugal　said；　peering　tentatively　under　one　of　his　patient's　eyelids　and　glancing　at　Kelson　inquiringly。　〃I　think　I　did　one　of　my　better　repair　jobs；　but　only　time　will　tell　for　sure。　He's　still　lost　a　lot　of　blood。　Best　if　he　simply　sleeps　through　the　night。〃
〃We'll　see　that　he　does　then；〃　Kelson　said；　touching　the　sleeping　man's　forehead　and　making　the　necessary　mental　adjustments。　〃I'd　have　someone　rouse　him　every　few　hours　to　drink　some　wine　…　Duncan　says　that　helps　to　restore　the　lost　blood　faster　…　but　otherwise；　he　shouldn't　stir　until　morning。〃
As　the　two　of　them　stood；　Dhugal　gathering　up　his　sword　and　plaid。　Kelson　signalled　one　of　his　men　to　attend。　Dhugal　gave　brief　instructions；　but　then　he　and　Kelson　moved　off　slowly　toward　the　edge　of　the　camp　which　had　formed　around　them　while　they　worked；　Wordlessly；　Kelson　took　the　sword　and　plaid　while　Dhugal　began　adjusting　his　armor。
The　two　were　nearly　of　a　height；　side　by　side。　Kelson　perhaps　a　few　fingers　taller　and　a　little　heavier；　though　neither　had　yet　e　into　their　true　man's　growth。　Before；　Kelson　had　thought　Dhugal's　copper…colored　hair　cut　short；　but　now；　as　Dhugal　pulled　off　his　mail　coif　and　ran　fingers　under　the　neck　of　his　brigandine　in　the　back　to　free　his　hair。　Kelson　saw　that　it　was　even　longer　than　his　own；　drawn　to　the　nape　of　the　neck　in　border　fashion　and　plaited　in　a　short　braid　tied　with　a　leather　thong。　He　took　the　coif　as　the　young　borderman　began　buckling　the　front　closures　of　the　brigandine；　leaning　against　a　tree　to　watch　indulgently　until　Dhugal；　with　a　roguish　grin；　reached　out　to　finger　a　strand　of　Kelson's　shoulder…length　hair。
〃So　that's　what　es　of　having　no　wars　for　the　past　two　years；〃　Dhugal　said；　dropping　the　lock　and　taking　back　the　sword　to　loop　its　baldric　over　his　shoulder。　〃Decadently　long　hair；　like　any　mon　borderer。　I　wonder　how　you'd　look　in　a　border　braid？〃
〃Why　don't　you　invite　me　home　to　greet　your　father　and　sample　highland　hospitality；　and　perhaps　you'll　see；〃　Kelson　returned　with　a　smile；　giving　him　back　his　plaid　and　coif。　〃If　I　haven't　already　scandalized　my　men　simply　by　being　Deryni；　then　playing　at　being　a　wild　border　chieftain　will　surely　turn　the　trick。　You've　changed；　Dhugal。〃
〃So　have　you。〃
〃Because　I've　acquired　…　magic？〃
〃No；　because　you've　acquired　a　crown。〃　Dhugal　lowered　his　eyes；　fingering　the　leather…lined　mail　of　the　coif。　〃Despite　what　you　said　before；　you　are　the　king　now。〃
〃And　does　that　make　a　difference？〃
〃You　know　it　does。〃
〃Then；　let　it　be　a　positive　difference；〃　Kelson　said。　〃You　yourself　admitted　that　with　the　power　I've　been　given；　both　temporal　and　…　other　…　I　now　have　the　power　to　do　greater　good。　Perhaps　some　of　the　things　that　we　only　dreamed　about　when　we　were　boys。　God　knows；　I　loved　my　father；　and　I　miss　him　terribly；　but　there　are　things　I'd　have　done　differently；　if　I'd　been　faced　with　some　of　the　things　he　had　to　face。　Now　I　have　that　chance。〃
〃And　does　that　make　a　difference？〃　Dhugal　asked。
Kelson　shrugged。　〃I'm　alive　…　and　my　father　is　dead。　I've　kept　the　peace　for　two　years　now。〃
〃And　the　peace　is　being　threatened　in　Meara。　That's　part　of　what　this　was　all　about；　you　know。〃　Dhugal　gestured　around　him　at　the　resting　men　and　the　knot　surrounding　the　prisoners　across　the　glade。　〃We've　always　had　a　raiding　problem　in　the　highlands　…　it's　part　of　our　way　of　life　…　but　some　of　these　men；　on　both　sides；　are　at　least　sympathetic　to　the　Lady　Caitrin's　cause。〃　He　made　a　face。　〃She's　my　aunt；　you　know。〃
Kelson　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Is　she？〃
〃Aye。　My　Uncle　Sicard's　wife。　Sicard　and　my　father　haven't　spoken　for